“
Two seconds went by before I got a response.
Lenny: The offer stands, bish.
Lenny: You’re the best person I know, fyi.
I smiled down at my phone.
Me: I love you too
Lenny: [eye rolling emoji]
Lenny: I was texting you because Grandpa G is making margaritas and he was asking where you were.
Me: Tell him I love him.
Lenny: I will. You find Rip?
Me: I’m watching him.
Lenny: Stalker
Me: He’s standing in front of me, I can’t help it.
Lenny: Pretty sure that’s what every stalker thinks.
I chanced another glance at the man and held back a sigh.
Me: Sometimes I don’t understand why him.
Lenny: Because he looks like he’s been in jail and that’s about as far away from what every jackass you’ve ever dated looks like?
Lenny: Grandpa G says he loves you too and to come over and bring the girl with you if she’s around. I didn’t tell him you’re at the bar, otherwise he’d want to invite himself. You know how that man gets in public.
I almost laughed at the first comment and definitely laughed at the second one. Rip did look like he’d done time. That was unfair, but it was the truth.
For all I knew, he probably had.
Then again, I was probably judging him by a face he had no say in. For all I knew, he had a marshmallow heart and rescued and rehabilitated small animals when he wasn’t at work. Deep down, he might have a caring and loving disposition that he only shared around very few people—people who had won his trust.
You never knew.
The idea of that put a small smile on my face and kept it there as I typed a message back, leaving the first comment alone.
Me: I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here, but if I leave soon, I’ll drop by. Tell Grandpa G that the girl is working tonight. You’re all coming for the graduation, right?
Lenny: Yes. I’m legit ready to cry this Saturday.
Lenny: I’ve got the blow horn ready by the way. TOOT TOOT, bish.
She wasn’t the only one preparing herself to cry this weekend, and that made me happy for some reason.
”
”